The Peacock and Me

By Ellis Harms

It was rare to leave the farm when I was growing up, but my dear, young father tried.

One Sunday afternoon we drove through Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, about 60 miles north of our farm, and spotted a lone peacock calmly walking the path, dragging his beautiful plumage on the ground behind.

I was about 14 years old at the time. My dad said to me, “Why don’t you just step on that peacock’s tail and get all the feathers you want. I think he was joking, but I took him seriously. I jumped out of the car and went running after the peacock. I caught up and stepped on its tail. To my happy surprise I got a whole handful of peacock feathers. Luckily there were no park authorities around.

Forever, thereafter, gorgeous peacock feathers have adorned our house. I still marvel at the beauty of a peacock feather – and won’t forget how I got my first specimen.